134 



(from which circumstance, T infer that it was for the matron of the 

 house), an oaken chest, about 2 feet 6 inches in length, by 1 foot 6 

 inches in width, with legs, and a lid, its sides carved like the chair, and 

 a small tape loom, such as the ladies of the olden time used to manu- 

 facture their garter stuff 1 , comprised a set of four pieces of furniture, 

 which my paternal grandmother, Sarah Dennis, wife of John Farley, 

 both of said Ipswich, brought to this town, to which they removed in 

 1772 or 1773. Its mate, through Robert Brookhouse, of Salem, Mass., 

 who married a daughter of my grandfather Farley, found its way back 

 to Essex County, and was presented by him to the Essex Historical 

 Society (since merged in the Essex Institute), on the day of its 

 organization, June 27, 1821, and was occupied by the venerable Dr. 

 Holyoke, its tirst President. It is now at the rooms of the Institute, 

 at Plummer Hall, in Salem. Some years afterwards, the chest went 

 into the possession of Mr. Brookhouse, and is now in the possession 

 of his daughter (by a second wife), Mrs. Perkins, wife of Judge Per- 

 kins, of Salem. The tape loom has been lost, or destroyed. 



That chest bears the date of 1630. David Dennis, a brother of my 

 grandmother, Sarah Dennis, aforesaid, who died at Nobleboro', in 

 this State, in October, 1843, aged 92, told me a few months prior to his 

 decease, that these pieces of furniture were then more than 200 years 

 old. His statement, taken in connection with the date upon the chest, 

 establishes, I think, beyond reasonable cavil, the age of the chair. 



Mr. R. KNOWLAND of Marblehead, after a few prelimi- 

 nary remarks, offered a resolution of thanks to the pro- 

 prietors of the church, to Messrs. James S. Jewett, 

 George Norwood, Josiah Friend, John D. Davis, Elias 

 Davis, Jr., A. F. Bragdon, W. E. Dennis, John A. Going, 

 James A. Dennison, Fred. Davis, Fred. W. Lane, James 

 Davis, E. W. Coffin, and all others who had been active 

 in their attentions, during this pleasant visit to Anni- 

 squam. The resolution was unanimously adopted. 



The meeting closed at 4 o'clock and the party was con- 

 veyed from the church to the railroad station in carriages 

 in waiting and departed highly pleased with their excur- 

 sion, both as to the kind reception by the people of the 

 village and the beautiful scenery and views presented on 

 every hand. 



